TYRENDARRA has completed its season from heaven, securing the crowning achievement of a 2023-24 Hamilton and District Cricket Association A grade premiership victory over St Andrews by three wickets.

While this is Tyrendarra’s first HDCA premiership victory – in its maiden season in the competition – it is the club’s fourth consecutive A grade flag as they came into the competition having won three straight in the Portland and District Cricket Association’s senior competition.

The Darras have now completed a near-perfect season of cricket, with their A grade premiership adding to packed trophy cabinet which only recently saw them add a one-day final shield and the Sungold Twenty20 Cup to its shelf.

The lone blemishes on their record across the season had been two defeats at the hand of St Andrews, the only team to defeat the Darras across all formats in all competitions this summer.

Tyrendarra skipper, Cam Mather, was rapt with his team’s performance in the game and the season.

“It’s up there as being the best one of the lot, having come from 3-16 to getting up and winning against such a good side as St Andrews,” Mather said.

“Jake (Wilson) and Ben (Menzel) gave us a chance with their partnership on day two, then all the boys (on Saturday) were determined to tough it out.

“At the start of the day I thought it was 60-40 in favour of St Andrews, but the boys refused to be bowled.

“Kudos to Jim Bailey and Andrew Gill for the wicket we have played on, as the batsmen enjoy batting here and the bowlers have to earn their wickets.

“It was a fantastic partnership from Hamish (Withers) and Darren (Killmister) that they had to battle through some very good bowling from St Andrews.

“We said at the start of the year that we wanted all of the titles on offer, as we have faltered with the T20 competition and to do what we have is incredible.

“Hopefully we can keep Ben (Menzel) and Darren (Killmister) playing onwards next season with possible different roles for them both to keep them on the park, but we are going to celebrate this for now.”

Both teams started the day on equal footing with Tyrendarra needing 144 runs and St Andrews requiring five wickets to claim the Dundas Cup.

The Drews had posted a commanding first innings of 300 which must have given the supporters heart that it would be enough, as few scores that big have been chased down in the HDCA final over the years.

The day began with Sam Wilson and Cam Mather at the wicket for the Darras, as Drews skipper, Russell Elton, pulled his first tactical surprise of the day by opening the bowling with his off spin.

The tactic didn’t last long though, as Elton split the webbing in his bowling hand which restricted his action and the Drews resorted to the faster bowlers from then on.

Mather advanced to 34 before he failed to get hold of his shot and the ball ballooned to Latham Wishart at mid-on, as Josh Nield forced the false stroke from the Darras captain.

 Mather and Wilson had rescued the side from 5-123 to reach 6-213 when Mather was dismissed, and the door seemed slightly ajar for the Drews.

Wilson followed soon after for a well-constructed 56, as he played back to a rising ball from Nield and was caught at first slip by Michael Fitzpatrick and the Drews had one hand on the cup at 7-232.

Hamish Withers and Darren Killmister were at the wicket and neither had batted much this summer, due to the success of the Darras’ top order.

The pair were determined that the opposition were going to have to earn their wickets, as they defended stoutly while putting the bad ball away.

The outfield rewarded shots that beat the fielders by speeding the ball to the fence, and it seemed that the Drews provided one bad ball per over that Withers and Killmister pounced on.

The scoreboard showed the tally passing 250, 260, 270, and onwards until, with 22 runs required, Damien Logan had a huge shout for caught behind against Killmister turned down by the umpire.

Player of the match, Ben Menzel, was extremely excited with the victory, and congratulated his teammates and supporters for the season’s success.

“To come up here this summer, it’s generated excitement within myself and the whole group of Portland-based clubs,” Menzel said.

“I’ve played for 35 years, and this is just about the perfect season for the boys.

“I feel valued as players to have come up here and have the support from our small community and then to play on the great venues we’ve been presented with is exceptional.

“To have both teams bat over 100 overs each and score 300 runs each just shows the quality of the pitch and the venue, plus the quality of the players within the competition.

“I was 16 years old when I first played top grade after starting the game when I was only nine, so it’s been 28 years, this is my 11th A grade premiership, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Menzel rescued the Darras with the bat when he strode to the wicket with the team struggling at 3-16 on day two after claiming 5-68 with the ball.